The discovery of the decomposed body of a stowaway aboard a cargo ship leads Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta to a perilous international odyssey on a mission that could destroy her career and threatens her own life.

The decomposed remains of a stowaway lead Dr. Kay Scarpetta on an international search to Interpol’s headquarters in Lyon, France—and on a mission that will pull her in two opposite directions: toward protecting her career or toward the truth.